Posted on 09/29/2004 4:11:57 PM PDT by Bald Eagle777
Ridge: No sign of terrorists trying to cross border
Associated Press
NOGALES, Ariz. (AP) -Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Monday that he's seen no sign of terrorist efforts to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, and that the United States is not going to start militarizing it.
``We have a long tradition with our friends to the north and south. We're very fortunate that we've never had to assign military to our borders, and we're not going to start that now,'' Ridge said. ``We don't militarize our borders with friends.''
Ridge said that he had seen nothing from any intelligence sources suggesting that terrorists have tried to cross ``this border, this port of entry or any area close to it.''
Ridge, in Nogales to announce two high-tech lanes for cutting waiting times for commercial trucks at the port of the entry here, said the country has made dramatic progress at its ports of entry.
He said the country has also made significant progress between them in boosting security since the Sept. 11 attacks.
``No one is saying it's a fail-safe system,'' he said. ``No one is saying we don't have more work to do.''
But he said the country is safer, that apprehensions of illegal immigrants are up significantly along the Mexican border and that work is continuing to make the situation safer still.
``This is a safer community, but this has been building up. It didn't get done with the Bush administration,'' said Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada, who's a Democrat.
Estrada said that since 1995, the Border Patrol has added resources and infrastructure, increasing the number of agents from fewer than 100 to around 500 now, and secured the border with more secure fencing.
``That has made a big difference,'' said Estrada, noting that there had been out-of-control, cross-border crime until the Border Patrol started beefing up and recognizing the problems that communities like Nogales face.
Asked about civilian groups patrolling the border, Ridge said they should leave matters to law enforcement officers who put their lives at risk every day.
Ridge also touted construction of two FAST lanes, standing for Free and Secure Trade, at the port of entry west of Nogales.
The lanes allow for advance clearance of trucks enrolled in the program carrying known low-risk shipments.
Trucking companies, trucks and drivers enrolled in the program use window decals and FAST commercial driver ID cards that are scanned by a reading device, and a Customs and Border Protection officer verifies approval provided on a computer screen.
Manufacturers or producers enrolled in the program are part of the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, while truck companies must meet security standards and background checks assure the truck drivers have clearance for the program.
The first such lane was dedicated last December in El Paso, which subsequently added a second lane. Others lanes are operating in Laredo and Hidalgo, Texas.
Other FAST lanes are planned at Otay Mesa and Calexico, Calif., and Brownsville, Texas.
On the Net:
Department of Homeland Security: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/
That's what we get for electing politicians who are all members of the Council on Foreign Relations - every stinkin' one of them and they all believe in the globalist new world order government. They are hellbent on destroying our country. Each and every one of them should be thrown out of office.
PS If you want to know what they are going to be up to next just read "Foreign Affairs" published by the Council on Foreign Relations. What they write in that rag usually becomes foreign policy.
sheesh...you're right. Freaking idiots...getting us all killed. Don't trust the globalist commiesalamiests without and within America...
bump to those sentiments
No signs.... other than some prayer rugs and pages torn from the Koran that the border ranchers have reported finding.
"Ridge: No sign of terrorists trying to cross border"
I'm petrified, mortified and stupified by this headline.
I hope Tom knows something I don't.
"he's seen no sign of terrorist efforts to cross the U.S.-Mexico border,"
Boy they sure think we're idiots don't they?
From your lips to God's ears BTTT
Fat, dumb and happy...
This is a lie, a Kerry type lie, so stupid and so ridiculous as to be funny were it not so sad.
" Ridge said that he had seen nothing from any intelligence sources suggesting that terrorists have tried to cross "this border, this port of entry or any area close to it." "
What does he mean by "this border"? Sounds funny when he also says "this port of entry or any area close to it" like "this border" doesn't mean the whole border. Or is he just talking about the Mexico border?
I think Ridge needs to visit the border with Mexico and different parts of TX, NM, AZ and CA and do a few honest townhall meetings and interview some BPAs, former and current...hahahahaha, yeah right. When hades freezes over OR enough of us are slaughtered on American soil that the peasants pick up pitchforks...
No.
It's the "DC Mentality", and it goes something like this:
"Look, we've given you idiots a society where you can drive SUV's, borrow houses from the bank that you can't really afford, drink lattes three times a day, and watch any kind of TV program you want. Now shut up and let us run the country, damn it! Or we might have to start taking away those SUV's! Is that what you want? Hmmmm?"
I also heard my local leftwing radio station, KPFA, who seemed to be arguing for tighter control of the borders. (I only caught the tail end, so I could be wrong, but the few minutes I heard led me to believe that.)
The only person who doesn't get it is Bush. And now Ridge. Probably Bush's entire coterie. This is the biggest issue for Conservatives, and none of them get it.
Maybe I should be taping the local news and sending it to Ridge, and we are 250 miles from the border.
They caught a whole semi of marijauna here a couple days ago.
"Militarization" is reserved for use against us Americans at airports, political conventions, license checkpoints, etc....
LOL
No joking...
This is pure bull pucky. I can take anyone, tonight, to a place where over 500 illegal alliens will be and transported by AMTRAK in box cars to be distributed throught the USA.
Shhhh. See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil are watching...
...listening and talking...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.